The Dutch National Ballet (Dutch: Het Nationale Ballet) is the official and largest ballet company in the Netherlands. Its forerunners were Ballet Der Lage Landen, Ballet of the Nederlandse Opera, Amsterdam Ballet, and Netherlands Ballet (Nederlands Ballet). As of March 2025[update] the company is directed by Ted Brandsen.
History
The Ballet Der Lage Landen was a pioneering Dutch ballet company founded by artistic director Mascha Ter Weeme in 1947.[1] The Ballet of the Nederlandse Opera was founded in 1949 by French dancer and choreographer Françoise Adret.[2] The two companies merged in 1959 to form the Amsterdam(s) Ballet.[1][2] Amsterdam Ballet in turn merged with the Netherlands Ballet (Nederlands Ballet) to form the Dutch National Ballet in 1961.[1]
The company's first director was Sonia Gaskell (1961–1969). Gaskell was the founder of Ballet Recital, the forerunner of her more famous Nederlands Ballet (1954-1961).[2] Other directors have included Rudi van Dantzig (1968–1991)[3][4][5] and Wayne Eagling (1991–2003).[6]
On 13 September 2011, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala performance in the presence of Queen Beatrix.[7]
↑Glenn Meredith Loney, "Evolution of an Ensemble: Rudi van Dantzig on the National Ballet of Holland," Dance Magazine (New York), March 1974, pp. 34-39.
↑"Farewell to a Choreographer: Profile of Choreographer Rudi van Dantzig as He Steps Down as Director of the Dutch National Ballet," Dance and Dancers (London), June/July 1991, p. 56.
↑Cruikshank, "Rudi van Dantzig," obituary, The Guardian (London), 23 January 2012.
↑Debra Craine and Judith Mackrell, "Eagling, Wayne", in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (Oxford University Press, 2000).
